Etiological and clinical studies of surgically treated mitral valve disease *
Between 1975 and 1996, 228 patients exclusive of reoperation underwent mitral valve surgery. These patients were divided into two groups according to the date of operation (before 1985 and after 1986). Etiology of valvular lesion, clinical findings and the surgical procedures were investigated in these patients. The etiology was rheumatic in 169 patients and non-rheumatic in 59 and the valvular disorder was mitral stenosis in 129 patients, steno-insufficiency in 27 and insufficiency in 72. The cause of non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation was chordal rupture in 26, prolapse in 16, infective endocarditis in 11 and ischemia in 4. After 1986, the number of rheumatic mitral valve disease cases decreased significantly and the number of non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation cases increased. In particular, the number of chordal rupture and leaflet prolapse cases increase as patient age increased. After 1986, most cases with rheumatic mitral valve disease required valve replacement and mitral valve reconstruction was attempted in most of the patients with non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation. Mitral valve prolapse and chordal rupture were the best indications for valve reconstruction . Therefor, 68％ of the cases with chordal rupture underwent valve reconstruction during the last six years. (Accepted on November 28, 1997) Kawasaki Igakkaishi 23(3) : 185-190, 1997
